Safety line anchorage methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An anchorage assembly ( 100 ) is interconnected between a support structure ( 90 ) and a safety line ( 160, 161 ). The anchorage assembly ( 100 ) routes the safety line ( 160, 161 ) about a corner and accommodates passage of a slotted coupling device movably mounted on the safety line ( 160, 161 ).

[0001] This application claims benefit of provisional application SerialNo. 60/261,072 filed Jan. 11, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus foranchoring an intermediate portion of a safety line relative to a supportstructure while accommodating passage of a coupling device that ismovably mounted on the line.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Most people who engage in activities at dangerous heightsrecognize the desirability of anchoring themselves relative to a supportstructure to reduce the likelihood or magnitude of injury in the eventof a fall. One widely accepted fall arrest system includes at least onehorizontal safety line that is connected to the support structure atintermittent locations by means of brackets. At least one couplingdevice may be mounted on the line and movable both along the line andpast the brackets without compromising the connection therebetween. As aresult, a person may tether himself to the coupling device and travelalong the safety line with relative freedom and safety. Examples of someknown systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Riches et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,385 to Riches et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,427 toRiches et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,410 to Sharp et al.

[0006] The foregoing patents disclose horizontal safety line systemswhich are advantageous in many respects and/or situations. Among otherthings, the line supporting brackets are designed to deform in the eventof a fall, thereby absorbing energy and/or indicating that the brackethas been subjected to a significant load. Also, a plurality of thesebrackets may be arranged to guide a safety line about corners and/orobstacles. Despite such advances, there is still room for additionaloptions and/or improvements in the field of safety line anchoragesystems and/or certain applications within the field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides an anchorage assembly thatsupports an intermediate portion of a safety line and accommodatespassage of a slotted coupling device movably mounted on the safety line.The anchorage guides the safety line about a corner of a supportstructure and provides desirable energy absorbing characteristics, aswell. On a preferred embodiment, multiple plates are interconnected inseries between a support structure and support brackets for the safetyline. Energy absorbing spacers are disposed between the supportstructure and the adjacent plate, as well as between two adjacentplates. The assembly is constructed so that the spacers are the firstcomponents to deform in the event of a fall. Many features and/oradvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] With reference to the Figures of the Drawing, wherein likenumerals represent like parts throughout the several views,

[0009]FIG. 1 is a fragmented, perspective view of an anchorage assemblyconstructed according to the principles of the present invention; and

[0010]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the anchorage assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] A preferred anchorage system constructed according to theprinciples of the present invention is designated as 100 in FIGS. 1-2.Generally speaking, the system 100 is connected to a support structure90 and supports at least one safety line 160, 161. Among other things,the system 100 is suitable for use as a component in horizontal safetyline systems like those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Richeset al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,385 to Riches et al.; U.S. Pat. No.5,224,427 to Riches et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,410 to Sharp et al.,all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the system 100 includes a first curved plate110 having an arcuate profile when viewed from below. The profile ispreferably configured to match or conform to the exterior of the supportstructure, which is depicted as a cylindrical post 90. Each end of theplate 110 is secured to the post 90 by means of a respective fastenerdesignated as 180 (and including a mating nut and bolt). Each associatedbolt extends through a respective hole in the plate 110 and through arespective member 190, which preferably functions as both a spacer andan energy absorber. The respective holes in the plate 110 are offsetvertically relative to one another to avoid interference between therespective bolts in the region of their intersection inside the post 90.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, a second curved plate 120 has a somewhatU-shaped profile when viewed from below. However, the opposite distalends of the plate 120 extend in divergent fashion and preferably definean angle equal to the change in direction experienced by the safety line160, 161 (approximately 110° on the depicted embodiment 100). Eachdistal end of the second plate 120 is secured to a respective end of thefirst plate 110 by means of a respective fastener 181 (including amating nut and bolt). Each associated bolt extends through aligned holesin the plates 110 and 120, and through a respective member 191 disposedbetween the plates 110 and 120. An intermediate segment of the secondplate 120 is similarly connected to an intermediate portion of the firstplate 110, with a relatively longer member 192 disposed therebetween,and a relatively longer fastener 182 (including a mating nut and bolt)inserted through the member 192 and interconnected between the plates110 and 120. Like the members 190, the members 191 and 192 preferablyfunction both as spacers and as energy absorbers.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, a third curved plate 140 has a profilecomparable to that of the second plate 120. Each distal end of the thirdplate 140 is secured to a respective end of the second plate 120 bymeans of a bowl-shaped bracket 130 disposed therebetween. At each end,fasteners 183 (including mating nuts and bolts) are interconnectedbetween the second plate 120 and a rim portion of a respective bracket130, and a fastener 184 (including a mating nut and bolt) isinterconnected between the third plate 140 and a base portion of arespective bracket 130.

[0015] Each fastener 184 also secures a respective bracket 151 to theplate 140. The plate 140 is relative taller than the plate 120, in orderto accommodate the second set of brackets 150, which are secured inplace by respective fasteners 185. However, the present invention is notlimited to any particular number of safety lines. The brackets 150 and151 and the safety lines 160 and 161 are identical to those disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Riches et al., except that the brackets 150and 151 are relatively more rigid and preferably made of stainlesssteel. Also, the system 100 is constructed so that the members 190-192are the first, and ideally the only, components to deform in response toa fall or any comparable load on either line 160 or 161. In this regard,the plates 110, 120, and 140 are also preferably stainless steel,whereas the members 190-192 are comparable to #40 engine block mountsmade by McKay Industries in Australia. As a result, replacement of thebrackets 150 and 151 (and the associated hassles) is a less frequentconcern.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the system 100 mayalternatively be constructed with brackets that are designed to deform.In other words, deformable brackets identical to those disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Riches et al. may be used in the system 100 toprovide an alternative system where the line supporting brackets are thefirst components to deform.

[0017] In yet another alternative arrangement, otherwise deformablebrackets, like those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,975 to Riches etal., may be modified or reinforced to resist deformation. For example,reinforcing plates may be interconnected between the brackets 150 and151 and the plate 140. The plates are preferably configured to match theprofile of the brackets 150 and 151 (including the relatively thin neckportion but not the tubular line supporting portion). The plates 170 arepreferably made of stainless steel and welded to both the brackets 150or 151 and the plate 140. With the addition of the plates, the members190-192 would, once again, be the first components of the system todeform.

[0018] The present invention also provides various methods which may beperformed in assembling and/or using the system 100. This disclosurewill enable others to realize various embodiments and/or applications.Therefore, although the present invention is described with reference toa preferred embodiment and a particular application, the scope of thepresent invention should be limited only to the extent of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of routing an intermediate portion of asafety line about a corner on a support structure while accommodatingpassage of a slotted coupling member along the safety line, comprisingthe steps of: disposing at least two energy absorbers between thesupport structure and a first curved plate; securing the first curvedplate to the support structure; disposing at least two energy absorbersbetween the first curved plate and a second curved plate; securing thesecond curved plate to the first curved plate; securing at least threeline supporting brackets to the second curved plate; securing the safetyline to the brackets; and securing the coupling member to the safetyline.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a third curved plate isinterconnected between the second curved plate and the brackets, andbowl-shaped fasteners are interconnected between the third curved plateand the second curved plate.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theenergy absorbers are designed to deform more readily than the plates orthe brackets.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the energyabsorbers is configured to receive a respective bolt.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first curved plate is provided with a firstcontour, and the second curved plate is provided with a discrete, secondcontour.
 6. An anchorage assembly for routing an intermediate portion ofa safety line about a corner of a support structure while accommodatingpassage of a coupling device, comprising: a first curved plate having aconvex side and a concave side; an energy absorber disposed adjacent theconcave side proximate each end of the first curved plate; an energyabsorber disposed adjacent the convex side proximate each end of thefirst curved plate; a second curved plate having a convex side and aconcave side, wherein the concave side of the second curved plate isarranged to face the convex side of the first curved plate, and thesecond curved plate is bolted to the first curved plate; and a pluralityof line supporting brackets anchored relative to the second curvedplate, wherein the brackets are relatively more rigid than the energyabsorbers.
 7. The anchorage assembly of claim 6, further comprising athird curved plate interconnected between the second curved plate andthe line supporting brackets.
 8. The anchorage assembly of claim 7,further comprising isolation brackets interconnected between the thirdcurved plate and the second curved plate.
 9. The anchorage assembly ofclaim 6, wherein an additional energy absorber is secured between anintermediate portion of the first curved plate and an intermediateportion of the second curved plate.
 10. The anchorage assembly of claim6, wherein a respective fastener extends through each energy absorberdisposed adjacent the concave side of the first curved plate.
 11. Incombination, a support structure having a corner, a horizontal safetyline supported by at least three brackets, and an anchorage assemblyinterconnected between the brackets and the support structure, theimprovement comprising: at least one plate configured to curve about thecorner of the support structure with a first end of the plate extendingin a first direction and a second end of the plate extending in adiscrete, second direction, wherein a first one of the brackets issupported proximate the first end of the plate, and a second one of thebrackets is supported proximate the second end of the plate, and a thirdone of the brackets is supported proximate an intermediate portion ofthe plate; and a first energy absorber secured between the supportstructure and the first end of the plate, and a second energy absorbersecured between the support structure and the second end of the plate.12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the at least one plate includesa first curved plate and a second curved plate, and additional energyabsorbers are secured therebetween.
 13. The combination of claim 12,wherein the at least one plate includes a third curved plate, and thesecond curved plate is secured between the first curved plate and thethird curved plate, and the brackets are secured to the third curvedplate.
 14. The combination of claim 13, further comprising isolationbrackets secured between the second curved plate and the third curvedplate.
 15. The combination of claim 13, wherein at least one said curvedplate is arcuate, and at least one said curved plate is comprised ofplanar segments.
 16. An anchorage system for routing a horizontal safetyline about a corner on a support structure, comprising: a first curvedplate having a concave side and a convex side; a second curved platehaving a concave side and a convex side; a third curved plate having aconcave side and a convex side; first energy absorbers disposed adjacentthe concave side of the first curved plate; first fasteners havingrespective leading ends inserted through the first curved plate andthrough respective first energy absorbers; second energy absorbersdisposed between the convex side of the first curved plate and theconcave side of the second curved plate; second fasteners extendingthrough respective second energy absorbers, and interconnected betweenthe first curved plate and the second curved plate; third fastenersinterconnected between the second curved plate and the third curvedplate; and line supporting brackets secured to the third curved plate byrespective third fasteners.
 17. The anchorage system of claim 16,wherein the first fasteners are bolts.
 18. The anchorage system of claim16, wherein the second fasteners are bolts.
 19. The anchorage system ofclaim 16, wherein each of the third fasteners includes a bowl-shapedbracket having a rim and a base, bolts interconnected between the rimand the second curved plate, and a bolt interconnected between the base,the third curved plate, and a respective one of the line supportingbrackets.
 20. The anchorage system of claim 16, wherein the system isconstructed in such a manner that a load on the safety line will causethe energy absorbers to deform before any other component of the system.